For months, Edward (Ed) Waldner knew something wasn’t right. At 55, he constantly felt exhausted, no matter how much or little he had done during the day. He wondered if sleep apnea could be to blame. He also noticed subtle changes in the way he walked, including times when his heels seemed to drag.
One day, when his symptoms became particularly severe, Waldner went to the Emergency Department to be checked out.
“The doctor said I had a mass on my brain and I needed to see an oncologist,” Waldner says.
The mass turned out to be a glioblastoma, an aggressive and often fatal form of brain cancer. Standard treatment usually includes surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible, followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy. However, even with these treatments, the cancer frequently returns.
Trial of vitamin B3 as a treatment for glioblastoma
Researchers at the University of Calgary are studying whether high doses of vitamin B3, also known as niacin, could improve outcomes when added to conventional glioblastoma treatment. Waldner was invited to participate in the clinical trial.
“I have no problem trying to help anyone. I agreed. I want to help myself too,” Waldner says. “I can tell you that being a part of this research helps me mentally because we are trying. When I left the hospital after surgery they told me, that’s it, that’s all we can do.”
The study is led by Drs. Gloria Roldan Urgoiti, MD, and Wee Yong, PhD, both members of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute. Roldán Urgoiti is a brain cancer specialist, while Yong is a neuroscientist whose work focuses on how the immune system affects the brain.
Together, they developed a research program to determine whether niacin can restore the function of weakened immune cells and help them destroy tumor cells. The project began in Yong’s laboratory using mice. Early experiments showed that niacin prolonged survival, leading the team to launch a Phase I and II clinical trial in people.
Awaken the immune system
“Normally, the immune system will try to counteract and prevent tumor growth; however, this brain cancer suppresses the immune system,” says Yong, a professor at the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM). “Niacin treatment rejuvenates immune cells so they can do what they are supposed to do: attack and kill cancer cells. I see it as an ongoing ‘battle for the brain.'”
The clinical trial was designed to identify the highest safe dose and evaluate the potential benefits of controlled-release niacin when combined with standard chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The researchers established a baseline before the study began. If progression-free survival at six months did not improve by at least 20 percent compared to previous studies, the trial would be stopped.
Early findings from 24 patients exceeded that goal. At six months, 82 percent of participants had no signs of disease progression. This represents a 28 percent improvement compared to previous studies. Researchers believe the results are encouraging for a cancer that remains incurable.
Promising early results for aggressive brain cancer
“Glioblastoma is the most aggressive brain cancer in adults. The survival of patients with this condition has not changed significantly since 20 years ago,” says Roldán Urgoiti, associate clinical professor at CSM. “Anything that can help should be explored, but requires strict protocols and safety oversight.”
The findings have been published in the Journal of Neurooncology.
Researchers emphasize that high doses of vitamins, including niacin, can be toxic and cause harm if not carefully monitored by medical professionals.
The study continues and the team hopes to complete its final analysis after enrolling 48 participants by the end of 2026 or early 2027.
Waldner says he feels very well these days. During your regular follow-up scans, you’re simply grateful to hear one word from your medical team: stable.
The research is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Alberta Cancer Foundation.